Mandel explains that with Oregon likely making it into the BCS National Championship, their Rose Bowl spot will likely be taken by Notre Dame, and Alabama would play for the Sugar Bowl, leaving a spot open for the SEC in the Fiesta Bowl.

“If that happens, the Fiesta Bowl will have a shot at an SEC team,” Mandel said. “Texas A&M is unquestionably that game’s most logical choice, both for proximity and fan enthusiasm over the Aggies’ breakthrough season.”

It’s worth noting that if one of the undefeated teams that currently comprise the BCS top three — Oregon, Kansas State, or Notre Dame — lose in the next few weeks, the SEC could finish with two teams in the top four between Alabama, Florida, Georgia and LSU, assuming at least two of them win out. That would block A&M’s BCS path, as teams that finish in the top four of the BCS standings are guaranteed a BCS bowl berth, and conferences are capped at two BCS bowl teams.

Mandel isn’t the only one projecting A&M in the Fiesta Bowl. ESPN’s Brad Edwards said Sunday that A&M is the most likely candidate from the SEC to play in the game.

“You can see there are a lot of SEC teams out there,” Edwards said. ” But as Reece (Davis) said, no conference can have more than two teams taken. I think they go with the SEC in the Fiesta, maybe not the team most people think, but I think Texas A&M has now put itself in a postion to be chosen.

“I think they have the most marketable player in the SEC, Johnny Manziel, maybe the most marketable in college football. And they are the closest geographically.”